Chapter 85: Infiltration in Disguise

Rin was dragged up into the treetops, bundled in White Wood’s cloak, and watched Kakashi and Obito weep over her “corpse” as she struggled to cry out a warning.

“Hush... Don’t you want to know what they’ll do after they see you dead?” White Wood whispered in her ear.

...

Rin actually fell silent, watching the two of them prepare to say their farewells to “her.”

Seeing the fake Rin in Obito’s arms, White Wood wiped at his eyes with mock sorrow. The one who had just been stabbed was his own mother, and he had invested heavily to awaken Obito’s eyes. Thankfully, the result did not disappoint: three tomoe, one more than the original.

“Obito...” Watching him confess to “herself,” Rin’s face went faintly red.

“Tsk... The whole world reeks of the sour stench of love, and only I exude the fresh fragrance of a lonely wanderer,” White Wood muttered bitterly.

But A-Fei’s performance did not last long; his true colors were already starting to show.

“Dammit!!!”

When Obito lowered his head to kiss the White Zetsu, even White Wood could not help leaping out. Fortunately, Kakashi acted in time and kicked A-Fei flying.

And then it was his turn.

...

“Wonderful, wonderful... what a tear-jerking farewell,” White Wood said, clapping as he sprang out.

“You bastard... I’ve awakened the Sharingan now. Your tricks won’t work anymore! Hand over Rin!!!” Obito glared fiercely, the spinning three tomoe fixing White Wood in place and seeing every one of his movements with perfect clarity.

“What beautiful eyes... a pity they’re not quite the kind I like,” White Wood said, shaking his head in disappointment.

A-Fei also emerged from underground and stood beside White Wood, dressed exactly the same way: a ridiculous mask, a loose black cloak.

Only then did the two understand that everything that had just happened had been controlled by two identical figures.

“Every magician has a partner. Allow me to formally introduce my assistant...” White Wood and A-Fei each leaned sideways, one to the left and one to the right, and made a heart shape with their arms.

“I don’t care what you two lunatics are trying to do! Give Rin back to me!!!” Obito roared.

“Tsk, tsk. A man who has only women in his eyes will never amount to much. Hayate Gekko seems to have come to terms with that; I think you could use a little guidance as well,” White Wood said, holding up a finger and pinching a tiny gap between it and his thumb.

“I don’t want greatness. I only want Rin!” Obito was stubborn to the end.

“Hayate...? Wasn’t he reported missing during a mission? Could it be...” Kakashi frowned at White Wood.

“Exactly. He had an epiphany, and then he went dark!”

“Aaaah! I’m furious! Give me back Rin!” Even with the Sharingan awakened, Obito still could not rid himself of his impulsive temper.

“What an uninteresting person. Useless and weak. I only hope that next time, you can use those eyes to entertain me a little more,” White Wood said, waving a finger.

“A grand finale~ Our next meeting will be even more splendid! By then, I shall no longer hold back.”

Bang, bang! With the thrown smoke, two clouds of white mist rose.

“Hey! You still haven’t given Rin back to me!” Obito shouted as he rushed into the smoke.

“Obito... I’m here.” Rin’s voice came from within a tree.

Kakashi and Obito hurried over, only to discover that Rin had actually been embedded inside a tree. Her entire body was encased in the trunk, with only her head exposed.

“A crude little trick. Have fun, hahahahaha...” Laughter, loose and unrestrained, drifted through the night sky.

“That damn trickster... He actually trapped Rin inside a tree. Next time I catch him, I’ll make sure he regrets it,” Obito shouted furiously, but this hour of the night was clearly no time for pursuit.

“There’s no better option. We’ll have to cut her out slowly,” Kakashi said with a helpless shake of his head, drawing his short blade and beginning to peel away the bark.

“Does anyone care about my feelings? Have you ever considered which is more loyal, a dog or a woman? You haven’t. You only care about yourselves.” Half of Pakkun wriggled on the ground, then kicked the box open with one foot, revealing a rear end. The other half of his body turned into a puff of white smoke, becoming a mouse that darted away.

“So I was just stuffed into a box... scared me half to death,” Pakkun said with relief. “Now I’m in the mood to think about that question...”

“A bone by the roadside or a pile of shit?”

“No need to think about it. Obviously you take the bone and dip it in the shit before eating!”

...

[Your juggling performance has aroused Sacha’s great interest, and he has bestowed a skill.]

[Illusory Clone]

[Create a physical clone with 60% of the original’s strength. It takes 50% additional damage, explodes on death, and triggers three jump-scare boxes.]

“Not bad. I’ve got a shadow clone now too. This trip wasn’t in vain.” Looking at the clone that was exactly like him, White Wood grinned foolishly.

“Now I have two cubs!!” A-Fei said happily, one in each arm.

“Transform into Rin,” White Wood ordered the clone with a thought.

“Are you stupid? I have my own consciousness; I know what to do.” The Illusory Clone could even talk back! But it still did the work without missing a beat, transforming into Rin.

“Crack, crack...” The clone even pinched its own body, looking thoroughly disgusted.

“Beast, that’s enough! I’m not that lewd!” White Wood roared.

“Tch! I am you, and you are me. Everything I do is what you want to do. I just have the lecherous heart and the guts to match,” the clone argued.

“What kind of personality did I split off into...” White Wood stared blankly at the Rin clone. “When a shadow clone disappears, it feeds back real sensations. Does your Illusory Clone do that too?”

The clone suddenly hugged its own body and took two steps back. “After I’ve slaved away for you like a beast of burden, you actually want to do that to me? You’re capable of doing it to your own self? Sick pervert!”

“...???” White Wood looked utterly baffled. “What kind of personality did I split off?”

...

At the second watchtower, after Minato Namikaze had already set out for the Iwagakure encampment, everyone was armed and ready, vigilant for a battle that might break out at any moment.

The Kakashi trio returned to camp carrying a large crate. After a simple identity check with the anti-transformation technique, they were allowed through.

Anti-Transformation Technique: Chakra charged with violent fluctuations is sent into the other party’s skin, effectively dispelling the disguise of transformation techniques. This was the routine inspection performed every time one entered the camp.

The Leaf Village was cautious enough, but unfortunately, White Zetsu’s ultimate transformation technique and White Wood’s innate charm were not so easily seen through.

“Yo, Kakashi! You were gone for quite a while. Did you run into a tough opponent? Did you have an all-out, blood-pumping battle?” Might Guy sprang up in front of his best friend at once.

“If you’ve got that much energy, why not help carry the box?” White Wood said, rolling his dead-fish eyes, his performance exactly like Kakashi’s.

“Of course! I would never refuse a request from my best friend. Just promise me a spar full of friendship afterward,” Might Guy said, thumping his chest.

“No problem. A passionate spar works too,” White Wood replied readily.

“Ho! Wonderful!” With effortless ease, Might Guy hoisted the box that had been hard for the two of them to carry and walked toward the base of the watchtower.

Two ninja were guarding the entrance at the bottom of the tower.

“Halt. Identify yourselves.”

“We are Kakashi’s squad, ordered to provide support to the transport unit. This is the cargo we recovered, and there is intelligence to report,” White Wood said, stepping forward to negotiate.

“I’ll notify them.” One guard went inside. A few minutes later he returned, opened the box, and examined it carefully. Confirming that there was nothing wrong, he finally let them in.

All right. Infiltration... successful!